You can’t analyze this through the prism of Best Buy’s bottom line, it’s doesn’t even pay to examine this as a Napster issue, what you’ve got to do is pull back and view this from a wide berth, encompassing music in general.\u00c2\u00a0 Because we’re on the verge of an incredible sea change, we’re just about at the TIPPING POINT!<\/p>\n
Streaming is going to rule.\u00c2\u00a0 One day, sales of tracks will dive and streaming will be the way people listen to music.<\/p>\n
It’s been ten years since the original Napster, verging on thirty years since the introduction of the CD, soon we’re going to have a generation that doesn’t think of music as something physical whatsoever.\u00c2\u00a0 It’s about delivery on demand.\u00c2\u00a0 I want to hear this cut, how do I do that?<\/p>\n
That’s what’s driving MySpace, that’s what even driving video views.\u00c2\u00a0 People just want to hear the songs.\u00c2\u00a0 If you can hear everything you want whenever you want, why do you need to own it?<\/p>\n
Napster is a good service, in some ways better than Rhapsody.\u00c2\u00a0 Albums are listed in order of release, how the listener thinks of them.\u00c2\u00a0 Inventory is frequently better than Real’s offering.\u00c2\u00a0 Then again, sometimes the reverse is true.\u00c2\u00a0 And in both cases, there are always missing tracks, absent because the labels believe this will incentivize customers to buy them.\u00c2\u00a0 Ain’t that a laugh.<\/p>\n
I use both via my Sonos system.\u00c2\u00a0 As for availability outside the house?\u00c2\u00a0 Not a big issue.\u00c2\u00a0 You see I’ve ALREADY got more music than can fit on any of my iPods, I can NO LONGER take everything with me…\u00c2\u00a0 And I’m sick and tired of stealing music, it takes too much time when I’ve got whatever I want at my fingertips.<\/p>\n
But Spotify is even better than Napster and Rhapsody.\u00c2\u00a0 Because you hear the music instantly, and if you back up, you don’t have to wait for the track to begin again.\u00c2\u00a0 And Spotify is working on an iPhone app.<\/p>\n
Give kudos to Apple.\u00c2\u00a0 The iPhone is about crawling from the wreckage into a brand new car.\u00c2\u00a0 Rather than worry about selling iPods, they’re selling iPhones, and the iPod Touch.\u00c2\u00a0 Now it’s about apps more than music.\u00c2\u00a0 Which is good, because just like ringtones, sales of individual tracks are going to take a dive.\u00c2\u00a0 But people are still going to want to hear songs on the go.\u00c2\u00a0 But they’ll be listening to streams on their iPhones.\u00c2\u00a0 Which will have apps for all these services.\u00c2\u00a0 But don’t believe for a second that Apple won’t compete with them.<\/p>\n
The interesting story is whether Apple can build a monopoly.\u00c2\u00a0 With the iPhone!\u00c2\u00a0 The Palm Pre is crippled upon launch, as a result of being tied to the dying Sprint.\u00c2\u00a0 Google Android has got the same problem as Windows Mobile, no uniformity.\u00c2\u00a0 That leaves the BlackBerry…\u00c2\u00a0 An amazing e-mail device, a shitty Web surfer.<\/p>\n
Just like there’s one iTunes Store, will there be ONE APP STORE?<\/p>\n
The iPhone will need to be available on all carriers, soon.\u00c2\u00a0 And wireless broadband performance has to improve in the U.S.\u00c2\u00a0 But if you can hear whatever you want whenever you want, why do you need to own it?<\/p>\n
Napster’s got the advantage of Best Buy, it’s got a storefront to move the product, which Rhapsody does not, Real needs to be worried.\u00c2\u00a0 But how much of a dent can Napster make?\u00c2\u00a0 We’ve never been able to convince the masses to pay for subscription services.\u00c2\u00a0 They’re saddled with the word "rent", which has a bad connotation and certainly aligns with "evaporate".\u00c2\u00a0 But Spotify starts free, and then you UPSELL!<\/p>\n
More music<\/p>\n
Today’s announcement isn’t about the viability of Napster, the impact upon Best Buy, but the breaking of the dam.\u00c2\u00a0 The move from ownership to streaming (a much better term than "renting").\u00c2\u00a0 No one can compete with Apple on ownership, Amazon has proven this, even though they’re almost giving away hit product.\u00c2\u00a0 When it comes to streaming will we have multiple services?\u00c2\u00a0 Or will you get it with your wireless subscription? And hear what you want online via Spotify.<\/p>\n
Utterly fascinating.\u00c2\u00a0 I’m not sure how the rights holders generate the revenue of yore, but it’s great for listeners.\u00c2\u00a0 Everything available at your fingertips!<\/p>\n
MySpace inured listeners to streaming.\u00c2\u00a0 YouTube seconded the effort.\u00c2\u00a0 How many clips consist of just the song?\u00c2\u00a0 While rights holders were debating the future, it was already happening.\u00c2\u00a0 Mind-sets have changed.\u00c2\u00a0 Ownership is HISTORY!<\/p>\n
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